#OurMoments: Janet Jackson Is A Pioneer Of Pop Music

Posted 2 years ago.

Starr Rhett-Rocque

Without Janet Jackson, there wouldn’t have been Aaliyah, Ciara, Britney Spears, or any pop princesses that have cult followings today. But considering who Miss Jackson is related to, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the cute little girl who played Penny on “Good Times” grew up to become a tour de force in pop culture.

The singer, songwriter, actress and dancer—first appeared on stage in April 1974, singing and doing impressions alongside her brother Randy in the Jackson family’s Las Vegas act and it kept getting better from there. In 1976, she appeared on “The Jacksons,” a summer replacement television show, then found her way to “Good Times” from 1977-79. She continued her television work in “A New Kind of Family,” “Different Strokes” and the teen drama “Fame.”

In 1982 she released her debut album, “Janet Jackson” under the guidance of her Michael Jackson. The album reached No. 84 on the pop charts and had three hit singles, including “Young Love” and “Give Your Love to Me.” The self-titled album sold about 250,000 copies, as did her follow-up, “Dream Street.”

Janet Jackson scored her first major success in 1986 with Control, which was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They sold eight million copies worldwide and featured two No. 1 singles, “What Have You Done For Me Lately” and the title track. It was also nominated for three Grammy Awards and 9 American Music Awards (won two of the latter) and introduced the world to Jackson’s new, sexier style, stage presence and dancing. It was this type of innovation that made her a star.

Janet Jackson’s story is well known but it never hurts to be reminded that she helped to pioneer the pop music scene for women and men. That’s why she’s ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music.

Follow HelloBeautiful On Twitter!

Follow @HelloBeautiful to get daily updates on beauty, fashion and entertainment!

50 Wishes for America from 50 Black Women

1. Deborah Hill

2. Dash Harris

"I wish for America to have never made up the concept of race." Dash Harris, 26

3 of 50

3. Kalieya H

"I wish for the elimination of guns and bullets." Kalieya H., 22

4 of 50

4. Amafra K

"I wish for America to be more international." Amafra K., 30

5 of 50

5. Sadiyya A

"I wish us all peace and respect for each other." Sadiyya A., 58

6 of 50

6. Desiree H

"I wish for free education." Desiree H., 26

7 of 50

7. Sierra K

"I wish for free health care for everyone." Sierra K., 23

8 of 50

8. Tanesha Barnes

"I wish for cultural revolution." Tanesha Barnes, age undisclosed

9 of 50

9. Alana H

"I wish for peace." Alana H., 32

10 of 50

10. Muriel R.

"I wish for things to be better. A lot of people don't have a job right now. So I wish for things to be like they used to be." Muriel R., 39

11 of 50

11. Kaylan C

"I wish for a better education system." Kaylan C., 29

12 of 50

12. Heather D.

"I wish for economic stability." Heather D., 29

13 of 50

13. Monique G

"I wish for free health care!" Monique G., 31

14 of 50

14. Roxanne J.

"My wish is that we find a way to find peace with our Muslim brothers and sisters, and as part of global peace, that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is resolved with each country having sovereign land." Roxanne J., 47

15 of 50

15. Jason-Louise G.

"I wish for an improved political system with more than two parties." Jason-Louise G., 27

16 of 50

16. Chanel C

"I wish for there to be no more hungry people." Chanel C., 26

17 of 50

17. Tracy Hopkins

"I wish that we stop all the violence and stop the mentality of resolving conflict through killing and violence. I wish that we see each other as human beings and have more value for life." Tracy Hopkins, 42

18 of 50

18. Terry Joyner

"I wish for peace, women's rights and diversity." Terry Joyner, 40s

19 of 50

19. Stella A.

"I wish for everyone to love each other." Stella A., 29

20 of 50

20. Mia D.

"I wish that we teach black boys and girls their true history so they can learn to love themselves." Mia D., 24

21 of 50

21. Jacqui Leveine

"My one wish is for us to find a cure for HIV."

22 of 50

22. Courtney M

"I wish for a better economy." Courtney M., 25

23 of 50

23. Ashley G

"I wish for peace." Ashley G., 22

24 of 50

24. Glorya H

"I wish for equality." Glorya H.

25 of 50

25. Michelle Dalmida

"I wish for less animosity and more peace in this country. Just more love and peace." Michelle Dalmida, 19

26 of 50

26. Natasha W.

"I wish us rich." Natasha W., 34

27 of 50

27. Cwen Charlee

"I wish for a America a plus-sized boutique." Cwen Charlee, 33

28 of 50

28. Dorothy Wooten

"I wish that we could stop and find a cure for HIV; empower women and children to protect themselves by using condoms; and stop violence around women being abused." Dorothy Wooten of Iris House, 72

29 of 50

29. Daranice Miguel

"I would like to see the justice system change regarding blacks. Blacks get a lot of time for doing drugs, while they give whites less time for rape. I have sons in jail for 11 years. We get persecuted too hard. I would like to see more jobs available to blacks so the youth don't have to sell drugs. It's like a Catch-22. And they can't vote once they get a felony." Daranice M., 54

30 of 50

30. Bernadette Hamilton

"My wish is that black people really come together and we understand our potential. Somehow with technology, we have lost our way. When something happens in our neighborhood, no one is organizing. We have to know our worth, after all, where does the richest diamond come from?" Bernadette Hamilton, 47

31 of 50

31. Stella Barker

"I wish for the economy to improve and for health care for all." Stella Barker, 33

32 of 50

32. Ginear Campbell

"I wish for an America with a great economy, an America where most others would come to Jesus and have a true appreciation and understanding for what he's done." Ginear Campbell, 31

36. Roselind Francis

37. Nia I'man Smith

"I want for America to stop cutting funding to arts institutions and the arts in schools." Nia I'man Smith, 25

38 of 50

38. Kai Storm

"I wish for more jobs and economic stability." Kai Storm, 40

39 of 50

39. Valencia Good

"I wish for black people to organize and fight police brutality and for parents to focus on what's going on with their kids." Valencia Good, 38

40 of 50

40. Stephanie Ngoziukpere

"I wish for a community amongst black people with one language to connect us." Stephanie Ngoziukpere, 21

41 of 50

41. Melissa Powell

"I wish for more prosperity and more peace for all." Melissa Powell, 30

42 of 50

42. Marissa Mounds

"I wish for the return of strong families." Marissa Mounds, 30

43 of 50

43. Charlotte Newman

"I wish that Americans again feel the sense of unbridled optimism that compelled America to rally around President Kennedy in pursuit of space exploration. And I hope that this renewed optimism is supported by a collective commitment to improving public education and eliminating violence in America's cities." Charlotte Newman, 30

44 of 50

44. Brittani Rettig

"I wish people would care for each other as they would care for themselves." Brittani Rettig

45 of 50

45. Teju Adisa-Farrar

"I wish for increased awareness of social and political issues." Teju Adisa-Farrar, 21